Can't see a Hidden System Directory

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MadMike
Posts: 2
Joined: 07.12.2014, 14:15

Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#1 Post by MadMike » 07.12.2014, 14:22

I sometimes need to edit my hosts file in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. However FC cannot view it as this is a system directory and is hidden away.

enabling View->Show->Show hidden files and View->Show->Show system files or running FC as admin does not fix this, the etc directory is still hidden.

An ideas?

Thank you


MadMike
Posts: 2
Joined: 07.12.2014, 14:15

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#3 Post by MadMike » 07.12.2014, 15:32

:? That's weird behaviour, I don't know what Microsoft was thinking there.

But thanks for your help, the link pointed to the right solution.

vsrawat
Posts: 182
Joined: 05.11.2009, 21:09

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#4 Post by vsrawat » 21.02.2021, 07:30

I had the same question (and problem) that I couldn't find system32\drivers\etc folder and this folder's contents in fc, but windows explorer showed everything promptly.

even system32\drivers shows only some 4-5 entries in fc, whereas it is a long long list in windows explorer.

As the above link posted by joby is throwing 404 not found I couldn't check what is there, so I reopen this question. Please send me joby's link's new location.

Thanks.
--
Rawat

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ralfso
Posts: 812
Joined: 31.10.2007, 18:21
Location: Gifhorn, Germany

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#5 Post by ralfso » 21.02.2021, 10:26

Explorer is showing "fake links" for 32bit programs on 64bit environment.
Link is outdatet, correct link:
https://freecommander.com/fchelpxe/en/F ... wsx64.html
Regards
Ralf

Win10 (64-bit), Intel i7-2600 (3,4 GHz), 8 GB Ram, 500 GB SSD, 2x2000 GB HD, NVIDIA GeForce 545

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Forez
Posts: 1312
Joined: 30.01.2016, 12:05
Location: In front of a PC monitor

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#6 Post by Forez » 22.02.2021, 01:10

vsrawat wrote: 21.02.2021, 07:30 [...]
even system32\drivers shows only some 4-5 entries in fc, whereas it is a long long list in windows explorer.
[...]
Should I be worried if both FreeCommander and Window Explorer are showing me [with hidden files option] selected] just 5 files in location of

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

?

vsrawat
Posts: 182
Joined: 05.11.2009, 21:09

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#7 Post by vsrawat » 22.02.2021, 06:42

if going to a folder through environment variable %XX% takes to some other folder, that is another issue.

but when we went to c: then to windows then to system32 then to drivers, by clicking one by one in fc window, then it has not taken help of any of windows environment variable %XX%, then why should it not show all files in that folder?

btw, are there more such problems where what is seen in windows explorer is NOT what you see in fc?

Thanks.
--
Rawat

vsrawat
Posts: 182
Joined: 05.11.2009, 21:09

Re: Can't see a Hidden System Directory

#8 Post by vsrawat » 22.02.2021, 06:44

Forez wrote: 22.02.2021, 01:10 Should I be worried if both FreeCommander and Window Explorer are showing me [with hidden files option] selected] just 5 files in location of

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

?
I also see only 5 files in etc folder in windows explorer. so I guess it is ok.
--
Rawat

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